Antral pressure device



Oct. 10%, 1950 J. M. omsom 2,525,183

ANTRAL PRESSURE DEVICE Filed Mai-ch 2o, 1947 q/EHU M. R0l$ ON IN V ENTOR.

BY 5? M ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTTOFFICEApplication, March 20, 1947, Serial No. 735,856

l, l'he invention is concerned .with the treatment. of sinusitis, and.more particularly with the provisionof an antral pressure device whichis insertable into andinflatable within a sinus to progressively restorenormal conditions there Sinusitis, whether allergic or bacterial,involves an abnormal condition of the mucous membrane lining a sinus,-Relief can be had only by such treatment as will tendto restore thelining to normal. It has been" found that by means of the presentinvention, pressure may be applied 'interiorly of a sinus to tendgradually to facilitate molecular difi'usion andlymph flow, and hencelead to greatly improved conditions, and in many cases to acompleterestoration to normal.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a devicecomprising a catheter having an inflatablev or distensible -bag thereon,such bag being insertable into a sinus preliminary to inflation to exerta desired and controllable pressure therein v 'Another: object oftheinvention is to provide a device of the class described which includes aself retaining head whereby the device is retained in position whetherit be inflated or deflated.

Still another object is the provision of a self retaining head which isdeformable by traction and/or manipulation, but which assumes apredetermined form when in normal use.

A further object is to provide a device in which the self retaining headhas a central bore forming a continuation of the bore of the catheter,but terminating in transverse passages proximate its end whereby anapplicator may be inserted into the central bore so that traction on thecatheter axially thereof will effect desired deformation or extension ofthe head to permit insertion through an opening and into a sinus.

Still another object is to provide a device of 2 Claims. (01. 128-344) 2Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the device. V

In Fig. 1, there is shown in dotted outline the general configuration ofthe maxillary bone having the maxillary sinus Z therein.v This sinus hasa natural opening 3 leading into the nasal passage. In. sinusitis, themucous membrane (not shown) lining the sinus 2 becomes congested, andthe passage or opening 3 becomes partially or wholly closed, thusaugmenting the congested condition theretofore existing. I have foundthat by providing withi the sinus 2, an artificial polypus, or pressuredevice, generally shown at 4, a condition is created which leads toenhanced molecular difiusion and lymph flow.

, and hence to relief from the sinusitis.

the class described which may, over a period of 'In' the use of-thedevice 6 it is intended that maxillary bone, or other bone within whichthe sinus is formed, to permit the insertion of the device now to bedescribed.

The device 4 comprises a catheter or tube It which terminates at itsupper end in, the self retaining head II which is surrounded by a bag ormembrane I2 of thin flexible material such as rubben'or the like.

In one manner of forming the device, the catheter ID, the head II, andbag I2 are separate parts which are interfit, and which are bound into aunitary structure as by means of a fine strand of material I3 such as afine cotton thread. It is to be understood, of course, that the elementsI0, II and I2 may be formed as a unitary structure, each of suchelements being made of a soft flexible material such as rubber, and itbeing intended that the bag I2 shall be inflatable to any extentnecessary for use in the purpose for which intended.

The bore I3 within the catheter I0 is coextensive with the central boreM which terminates at I5 proximate the upper end of the head II. Thebore M communicates with transverse passage I6 within the head II,itbeing intended that fluid introduced through the catheter bore i3shall pass outwardly into the bag I2, and thence effect inflation therofafter the device has been placed within the sinus 2.

The use of the device thus far described is believed apparent, but byway of summary it will be noted that initially the opening 5 is formedto provide an entrance for the device to the interior of the sinus 2. Anapplicator (not shown) in the form of a fine blunt rod is then insertedinto the bore [3 and into engagement with the end or abutment I5 in thebore of the head II.

Traction is then effected between such applicator and the catheterwhereby the head H is elongated within the bag I2 upon which a suitablelubricant has been placed. The bag and head are then inserted throughthe opening 5 to the position shown in Fig. 1. The applicator is thenwithdrawn whereupon the head H assumes the general form shown. There issufiicient inherent rigidity in the head that the head II and bag I2 areretained within the sinus 2 unless afiirmative steps are taken to removethe device therefrom.

After the operation just described has been completed, a quantity offluid, preferably liquid having a high specific gravity, such as iodizedoil, is introduced into the catheter H] at such a pressure as to effectlimited inflation of the bag l2. When sufficient fluid has been injectedfor a given period of treatment, the end of the catheter I0 is closedoff in a suitable manner such as by tying as shown at 11.

It is to be understood that, for example, where the device is introducedthrough the nasal passage, the catheter I0 will be sufiiciently shortthat there will be no protrusion thereof from the nasal opening.

It is also pointed out that treatment in accordance with the inventionextends over a considerable period of time and that additional liquidmay be added through the catheter IE1 at intervals to conform withchanging conditions and resulting requirements of treatment.Alternately, in event of distress requiring relief in the absence of aphysician, the lower portion of the catheter may be severed to relievepressure fora period of time preliminary to resumption of treatment.

It is to be understood that while a specific structure has beendescribed and explained above, such structure and technique areillustrative only as the invention broadly comprehends an antralpressures device which is insertable into and inflatable within a sinusto progressively restore conditions therein to normal.

The invention claimed is:

1. An antral pressure device comprising, a catheter tube, a head thereonhaving a passage therein communicating with the bore of the tube andterminating within the head to form an abutment in the passage withinthe head, whereby said head is axially extensible from traction upon thecatheter when a rigid applicator is placed within the bore of the tubeand into engagement with said abutment, a transverse passage in the headcommunicating with the bore of the tube and the periphery of the headand a distensible bag surrounding said head and secured to the cathetertube proximate the head.

2. An antral pressure device including a tube and a head thereon, thebore within the tube and head terminating proximate to outermost surfaceof the head so that the head is axially extensible and radiallycontractable from axial traction thereon for passage through an openingof the approximate transverse cross section of that of the tube, atransverse passage in the head communicating with the bore therein, and

F an inflatable bag surrounding the head and sealably attached to thetube inwardly from the head, said head being retractile axially andexpansile radially upon release of axial traction thereon, whereby thedevice is self-retaining in position at one side of the opening and thebag is inflatable within the space in which the device is retained.

JEHU M. ROBISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 504,424 Pezzer Sept. 5, 18931,235,095 Beck July 31, 1917 1,282,881 Landis Oct. 29, 1918 1,584,464Maranville May 11, 1926 2,230,150 Winder Jan. 28, 1941

